Mixing Art And Business

May 26, 2000|By KIMBERLEY DENNEY Special to the Sun-Sentinel

DAVIE — It was an art show of a different sort at the Young at Art Children's Museum, where youngsters ages 4 to 14 displayed and sold their own creations during the museum's 11th birthday celebration.

"This is the only event of its kind in the country, and a great opportunity for kids to sell their own artwork and keep all of the profits," said Diane Weinbrum, the museum's director of marketing.

"They also get a chance to learn first-hand how businesses work, while making summer spending money."

Weinbrum estimated that 1,000 people attended the event earlier this month. And, at this show, the old adage of the early bird getting the worm definitely held true.

Alexandra Fritz, 5, of Davie, sold all 15 of her jeans-pocket purses in the first two hours. Her brother, Nathaniel, 9, was at an adjacent booth selling papier-mchM-i pots and snakes, but said the "rubber band balls have been my biggest seller."

He and his sister planned to save their profits for a family trip to Disney World this summer.

Members of Davie Girl Scout Troop 348 were saving for a different kind of trip. They were selling hand-made pillows, magnets, colorful tissue paper-framed mirrors and other gifts.

"We're going on a field trip to Washington, D.C., in two weeks, so our money is going towards the trip," said Brooke Goldman, 9, of Cooper City.

Sydney Hopen, 9, an award-winning artist since kindergarten, proudly displayed her credentials -- a printed resume -- next to her pastel drawings and beaded jewelry.

"Arts and crafts have always been fun for me," the Davie youngster said between sales. "I started making bracelets for myself, and then my friends wanted them, too, and that's how I started my business."

A wide variety of gifts was displayed under a blue and white striped tent. Painted clay pots, decorative bottles, paintings and sketches, jewelry boxes, candles, ceramics and sun catchers were among the items available at nearly 30 booths.

One crafty entrepreneur, enlisting mom's help, took Polaroid photos of children in front of a heart-filled backdrop and fitted the pictures into magnetic frames.

In the spirit of Mother's Day, Weston resident Alison Ponn, 10, came up with a novel approach by selling custom-made gift-wrapping paper, and even displayed her own business cards. "I got a paint set and had fun with it, and then I got the idea to make wrapping paper," she said.

Ruth Drucker of Davie was purchasing beaded ID bracelets for herself and her 2-year-old granddaughter, Kayla.

"This is such a wonderful idea for the kids," the former teacher said. "They really put a lot of time and effort into their work, and you can tell they're having fun, too."

Running a business can really work up an appetite. In between bites of a hot dog, Peter Simmons, 8, explained how he made birdhouses out of gourds.

"It's a lot of work, but it's a fun family project," he said of the gourds that had been hollowed out and decorated with acrylics and high gloss paint. "I'm going to use the money I make to buy something nice for my mom, since she helped me get started."

Some of the young artists, however, were spending their money faster than they were earning it.